The Culture of Narcissism
Also known as The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations
Christopher Lasch's 1979 diagnosis of pathological narcissism in American culture.
At a glance
Key ideas
Pathology as heightened normality, Not hedonism, Symptoms
See all 3Reception
Jimmy Carter, Louis Menand, Lasch's unease
See all 3Connections
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Lasch argues that since World War II America has produced a personality type matching the clinical picture of pathological narcissism, not mere selfishness.
- He relates it to modern capitalism and to a therapeutic mindset spreading into social and family life.
- He finds its symptoms in 1960s radical movements and in 1970s spiritual movements.
- He held that the condition had roots in the nineteenth century.
Why it matters
- It became a bestseller and a talking point, and its account of a self-absorbed consumer culture is still widely cited.
Key facts
- Author
- Christopher Lasch1
- Published
- 1979, W. W. Norton; mass-market edition September 19791
- Award
- 1980 US National Book Award, Current Interest (paperback)1
- Later editions
- With an afterword, "The Culture of Narcissism Revisited"; revised edition 19911
Key ideas
Reception
-
Jimmy Carter1
Lasch visited Camp David to advise Carter before his July 15, 1979 "crisis of confidence" speech.
-
Louis Menand1
Argued liberals and conservatives alike misused it for their own agendas.
-
Lasch's unease2
He was uncomfortable with the National Book Award, saying prizes reflected the industry's worst tendencies.
Connections
Written by
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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